Ordination of a Priest in the Holy Metropolis of Corfu

Ordination of a Priest in the Holy Metropolis of Corfu

On Saturday, January 20, 2018, the Matin and the Divine Liturgy were done at the Metropolitan Church of Virgin Mary the Spilaiotissa by his Eminence, the Bishop of Corfu, Paxoi and Diapontian Islands, Mr. Nektarios. During the Liturgy, his Eminence ordained father Nektarios Bokos.

Father Nektarios was deeply emotional and mentioned in his speech the following: When facing this great Mystery of Priesthood, he cannot really speak, his mind grows dim and his heart trembles.

The only words that can express consist of infinite gratitude and glorification to the Most Holy God and thanks not only to his Eminence that helped him for four years and the Holy Clergy but also to the people of Corfu’s Church who offered their love to him from the very first moment.

The Bishop of Corfu addressed to father Nektarios, stressed that no matter how much someone learns through science and Theology, it is not enough to complement the Divine Experience, which is felt by a priest before the Holy Table. This call comes from Christ. He is the one to make the call, the one to bind our Hearts, our minds and every single one of our senses.

In these difficult times, the Bishop continued, that our homeland and our Church is in danger coming from within and from foreign powers, when the sole purpose is to destroy everything in people’s lives, we need to have priests ready to sacrifice and give, priests who will bring people back to God.

Moreover, Mr. Nektarios emphasized the fact that Priesthood is a very great gift. But it is also a life on the Cross. Everyone is called to follow the uphill path to Golgotha in order to reach Resurrection. One gives himself to God and his people as a whole.

This path was followed by all the Holy Fathers of our Church. Both the Bishop and the Priests do not live for themselves, they live for God and the people. The Priest has a duty to make all people new through his words. Without the words, without work and solidarity to people, nothing can be attainable.

However, this road is not easy. Priests listen to blaming and jealousies. Malevolent people and people led by temptations are silenced only by the Priests’ work.

In his conclusion, his Eminence wished to father Nektarios to have God’s grace and give him strength in this difficult work, along with the prayers of his father, father Demetrios, his mother, his wife and all his family.